Method for crimping textile fibers



Aug. 4, 1953 J. H. PFAU 2,647,285

METHOD FOR CRIMPING TEXTILE FIBERS Filed July 20, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet lORNEY Aug. 4, 1953 METHOD FOR CRIMPING TEXTILE FIBERs Filed July 2o,195o 2 snelste-sheet 21 lNVENTOR JEL/u.: /74 PF4 y A 'a ff RNEY J. H.PFAU 256475285 Patented Aug. 4, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE yJulius H. Pfau, Yonkers, N. Y., assignor to Alexander Smith,Incorporated,a corporation of New York Application July 20, 195o, serialNan/1,870

(C1. V12a-jet) f Claims.

l y This invention relates to a method and apparatus for improving thecharacteristics of textile fibers and more particularly for imparting acontrolled artificial crimp to such fibers.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method andapparatus for the above purpose.

Another object is to provide an apparatus for crimping and settingtextile fibers in which the crimping and setting operations may be con-`trolled independently.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature ofthe invention is more fully disclosed.

The invention is particularly applicable to ani- 15 tion; mal berS OfShort fiber lengths Such aS WOOl- Fig. 2 is a sectional viewillustrating a setting Itllnay also be applied, hOWeVer, t0 Otherfibers, apparatus in which the fibers are held in comincluding vegetablefibers such as cotton, jute, paci-,ed ferm in a dye bath; Y hemp, rameand flax, continuous'laments Such Fig 3 is asimilar sectional view.illustrating as silk or uncrosslinked thermoplastic synthetictliesetting step as carriedoui-,in asteam Cham.. fibers such as rayon,nylon, or the like, vdepending 10er; f n Y e upon the conditionsmaintained vin the crimping lFigI 4 isv a sectiona1 view illustrating. afurand Setting zones. ther embodiment' of the invention wherein'the Inaccordance with the present invention the fibers `are .set While vheldcompacted in a Setting fibers are crimped mechanically and the crimp 3Chamber; .I I is set into the fibers in a separate setting zone.y Fig; 5is a Sectional View illustrating an em- The mechanical Crimp may beimparted" in V31` bo'dment of the invention wherein the fibers 0115 WaysaS by feeding a rODe 0r Shlhbing 0f are crimped by gear'crimpers andare.set in a fibers between feed rolls into .a mass of fibers stuingbox;y f held under a back pressure sufficient to cause 3U I Fig 6 sasectional,view-.illustrating the inthe bers to be folded over andcrimped as they venden as appliedfe -a pair-0f belts having ser.. areforced into the mass. Ina further embodirated crimping surfaces; .1;ment the-fibers are crimped in a geatlimpe I Fig. 7 `is an enlargedsectional vview illustratcomprising a pairof luted rolls, eithercylindriing a eene grimper; and cal or conical, between which the fibersare Fig 3 is a section taken en the une 3 3. of passed, or by means of apair `of -belts having Fig- 1L serrated surfaces and held togetherundersuff- Referring to the drawings more in detail, the cient pressuretocause the bers'to be distorted invention s shown in Fia 1 asvappled to aand crimped as they pass therebetween. If the samer. Crimper Comprisinga pair. of feed rolls nature of the fibers so requires they maybe pre-40 la whichl are. dI-Wen. in any suitablev manner treated to soften thesame sufficiently to permit and betweenrwheh arope Orembbing is passedthe Crimping.` for crimping. A pivoted gate I2 mounted on a The bersthus treated have a crimp which is pedestal I3 by means of a pivot I4and provided temporary and unset- In'o'de t0 set the crimp with acountervveightv I5 is lformeclvwith a surthus formed the fibers areintroduced intoa zone face 15 which` is, adaptedlto engagev the surfaceswherein a mass 0f fibers are compacted and held ofthe feed rolls ISI.`and to form. in combination under pressure and are tfeited With Settingwithsaid feed rolls .I0 a closed crimping chamagent While the COmDaCtngpressure'ls mam? ber I1 containing a vmass of bers .which are tained.The Settnr agent may be introduced into held compacted-under a pressuredetermined by the mass of bers in a Swing bOX wherein they the postionof the counterweight I5. The surface are held under pressure. 0r `thefibers may be I5 is shown as sloping to the left to provide an compactedand packaged 0r baled und'er'DreS- inclined .path over 4which thefibers, after being sure and introduced into a setting chamber con-@impeda the chamber 1v1, are diseharged as a taining a setting agent,such as steam under pres rope 2li of crimped fibers. The `crlmped,fibers sure or a heated liquid, such as a dye bath. .In are thusdischarged from the .chamber I1 when either casethe iibersare held underpressure andthe treatment iscarried out' for a time to effect aipermanent set which -remains vin the fibers after they have beenreleasedfrom 'the compacting force. "l

The novel features which are characteristic of this invention will bebetter understood by referring to the following description, taken inconnection 'withfthe accompanying drawings in which specificembodimentsy havebeen set forth for purposes vof illustration. i f Inthe drawings: Figi is a sectional view illustrating a` crimper andstuiiing box embodying the present inventhe pressure built up in thechamber I1 is sumcient to overcome the Weight I5 and cause the gate I2to pivot about its pivot i4.

In order to build up this pressure the incoming fibers are fed by thefeed rolls I0 into the mass of bers already in the crimping chamber Iland are folded over to form spaced crimps as they are introducedyagainst the, compacted mass of fibers already-in thechamber. Hence therope emerging from the chamber II is composed of fibers having a seriesof crimps the frequency of which is dependent upon the nature of thebers and the pressure exerted upon the gate I2 by the Weight I5.

In the embodiment shown lA the rope 20 is introduced through a hopper 2linto a standard baler shown as a cylinder 22 having, am end closure 23which is secured to the cylinder Walls by suitable means such as a hinge24P and a latch 25, and having. a. piston 26 for compacting the mass:-ofxfibers in the cylinder., Aa the rope 2l is `fe'darintci the` cylinderv22: the. piston 2E may bereciprocated; foirpaclringI the mass of'fibers against thee end closure 23 and when the cylinder 22 has beenfilled: the: piston 2B- is advanced under suitable pressureto compactland compressa the. fibers against thea end. wall 23 in a compact mass:2T... The massfof fibers' 21',y while stili-held. under* pressure:bythe. piston 2.6;. ist then baled by suitable insana. as by wires 2:9.which may be inserted in the' the usualt manner to form a bale 28secured. and-'held under a substantial: ccmpacting pressure bywires 29.The baienof fibers 2u mayn be removed from, the cyl,- inder 22 byreleasing the latch 25 and may be introduced into arsettingfzieor maybe: stored for' future setting.

Fig. 2 illustrates one: method of setting the crimp: in. the baledfibers wherein a` plurality of' bales moxmted om a. movable platform 30are positioned in a tank 3i which may contain a setting agent such as a.solution 32? which. is circulated through the baliesby' means of. acircalati-ng impelfer Suitable steam pipes 3d are provided formaintaining the solution at a proper temperature. The solution mayinclude adye inwh-ich case thesetting is: combined with the-dyeingstep.` The bales are. srwwm as extending substantially entirely across.-theta-nk so that thev liquid must pase therethrough as it isIrecirculated by the. impeller..

The fibers are maintained in the batti for a sufficient period of timeto effect` a permanent set of the crimp, afterrwhich they may be removedand the pressure thereon released as by removing the Wires 29. Thefibers may then: be carded and spun orl otherwise. treated'in. the

usual manner. y

in the embodiment shown'inFig; Sthebales 28` are shown as placed in asteamrchamber 40 wherein steamV is introduced through ai pipe 4I and ismaintained under suitable conditions of temperature and pressure toeffect the. setting ofthe crimp. The chamber is vented by pipe d2.AfterA the cri-'mp has been set' the bales 28 are removed from the-steamchamber andcarded and spun in the usual manner. As in Fig; 2, the balesextend entirely across the steamk chamber so that' the steammust passtherethrough in its path from the inlet pipe #Il to the discharge pipe42'.

Referring. to Fig. the crimped rope 20 as received from'the crimper ofFig. 1 for example, is introduced by means of apivoted guide 42 to oneof two cylmdersl; each of which is provided with a piston 44 forcompacting the fibers therein and with a hinged gate 45 at the bottomfor releasing the fibers after treatment. The gates 45 are secured tothe cylinders 43 by means of hinges Ai6 and may be latched by latches41. A manifold 48 extends around each of the cylinders 43 and isprovided with a plurality of ports KS* for introducing a agentinto thecylinder. The setting agent, such as steam, is introduced to themanifold 4B by means of an inlet pipe 50. The set fibers may bedischarged from the. cylinders- 43. onto a moving conveyor 5l.

In the operation of this device the bers are introduced into. one of thecylinders 43 (the right cylinder as: indicated in Fig. 4) by means ofthe guide 42. After the right cylinder 43 has beeniilledlto4 the.desired level the guide is shifted to the dotted position shown in Fig.4 to introdfuce the fibers into the left cylinder, whereupon the pistonla of the right cylinder is depressed fon compacting: the` fibers:-that. cylinder: against theA gateA 45. While the mass'. of ihersris thusheld compacted the setting agent, such as steam or superheated; water,is .introduced through the' pipe- 50; manifold G8, and ports: itsi-ntcfthe compacted-` mass of bers' inthe cylinder under conditions toset the crimp there- After a: predetermined time. the gate.- 5 isreleased and the fibeisva're removed from, the cylinder 43' onto theconveyor 5i. The gate, 45 is then closed and the piston, Mi elevated to.re.- ceive a new supply of fibers; Thel operation is repeated the `leftcylinders.

This apparatus permits the fibers. to beureceisved;` continuously fromthe crimper and to be set in batches as desired. Obviously the rope 2Qfrom a plural-ity of Crim-pera may be,v fed into the, cylinders d'3 as'.above indicated. and the enitire mass: of fibers;- ronr all of' thecrimpersA may be set. at. intervals depending upon: the capacity of thecylinders 43..

Referring tol the embodiment of. Fig. 5 a gear crimper is shown ascomprising, a pair. of fluter rollsl 55% which receive a slubbing Ii of.fibersto be crimped and discharge the crimped fibers. into a,v hopper561 of a continuous crimper comprising a cylinder 5-'I.` having an. endclosure it and havi'n'g a reciprocatingv piston 55;. The end closure 58is. shown asv hinged by a. hinge 691 and. is. held closed bya'compressiorr spring. 6I. The: piston 5B is adaptedxto he oscillated soas to pack the hersfinl the'cylinder 51 as they are. receivedfrom thehopper, to: maintain the bers under substantial pressure therein and toforce the fibers out of the cylinder 51 when sufficient pressure isexerted to overcome the force of the spring Si and open `the `gate 58-.The' cylinder 5.1, is; pro.- vded with a pair of manifolds $3 having:ports. 64 communicating: with the interior of. the cylinder' 51' andsupplied with'an inert medium such as -air under pressure through pipes.65,. sol. as to provide an air lock to prevent the escape; ofv thesetting agent. The cylinder 5l is' also provided with a plurality' ofmanifolds Eihaving ports G1' communicating with the cylinder 57i throughwhich a setting agent, such as steam or superheated Water, is introducedas by means. ofV pipes 68'.

In the operation of this embodiment: of the in venticn the crimped bersfrom the gearv crimper 55 are held under pressure in the setting chamber51' during such period as maybe recpiirecltol eff'ect setting of thecrimp due tothe action4 of the steam or other setting. agent which isintroduced `tlfnough the pipe 68..

will be serrated or crimped as it is fed between the belts and conveyedthereby to a discharge point Where it is discharged 4as a crimped rope2li into the hopper 5t of a crimping chamber 5i as above described.

In the embodiment of Figs. 7 and 8 the crimping of the slubbing l l iseffected by a fluted cone l bearing against the surface of a smoothfaced cone '18. The slubbing Il passes around the iiuted cone l5 andadvances toward the apex thereof. During this passage the fibers areforced into the corrugations of the cone 'i5 and are crimped, thecrimped fibers being discharged as a rope 223 to the hopper 5t as abovedescribed.

It is to be understood that the various crimpers of Figs. 1, 5, c and '7may be used in combination With any of the setting devices of Figs. 2,3, fl and 5 and that selected combinations have been shown for purposesof illustration only.

In the above method, the raw fibers are rst opened, scoured, Washed anddried in the usual manner to form stock and under the desired conditionsto leave the stock with the desired pI-I for crimping. The stock is thencarded and formed into a condensed rope or slubbing which is fed to thecrimpers above described where it is crimped. It is then compacted andset in any of the various setting Zones illustrated. For equilibriumconditions of moisture content and pH the setting time varies inverselyTwith the temperature. With steam at a pressure of 20 pounds per squareinch the setting time may constitute a few minutes, Whereas with hotWater or hot dye bath, a setting time of several hours may be required.In any event the mass of fibers is held under compacting pressure duringthe setting step.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of imparting a permanent `artificial crimp to textilefibers, which comprises gripping said fibers between closely spacedconveyor surfaces discharging into a substantially closed zone, andforcing the gripped fibers into said zone against the pressure of a massof fibers held compacted under pressure in said zone, said pressurebeing adapted to cause the fibers to be progressively folded over andcrimped as they are delivered from said conveyor surfaces, removing thecrimped fibers from said zone and releasing thecompacting pressurethereon, transferring the fibers While free from said compactingpressure to a second pressure zone, applying pressure in said last zoneto compress said fibers into a compacted mass, and subjecting said masswhile under said compacting pressure to a setting agent for a period oftime to effect a permanent set of said crimp.

2. The method of imparting a permanent artificial crimp to textilefibers, which comprises gripping said fibers between closely spacedconveyor surfaces discharging into a substantially closed zone, andforcing the gripped fibers into said zone against the pressure of a massof bers held compacted under pressure in said zone, said pressure beingadapted to cause the bers to be progressively folded over and crimped asthey are delivered from said conveyor surfaces, removing the crimpedfibers from said zone and releasing the compacting pressure thereon,transferring the fibers while free from said compacting pressure to asecond pressure zone, applying pressure in said last Zone to compresssaid fibers into a compacted mass, introducing a setting agent into saidcompacted mass of fibers, and maintaining said compacting pressure onsaid mass until the crimp has been permanently set therein.

3. The method of imparting a permanent artificial crimp to textilefibers, which comprises gripping said fibers between closely spacedconveyor surfaces discharging into a substantially closed zone, andforcing the gripped bers into said Zone against the pressure of a massof fibers held compacted under pressure in said zone, said pressurebeing adapted to cause the fibers to be progressively folded over andcrimped as they are delivered from said conveyor surfaces, reinoving thecrimped fibers from said zone and releasing the compacting pressurethereon, transferring the fibers while free from said compactingpressure to a second pressure zone, applying pressure in said last zoneto compress said fibers into a compacted mass, introducing saidcompacted mass of fibers into a setting zone, and treating the mass insaid setting zone While maintaining said compacting pressure thereonWith a setting agent under conditions to eect a permanent set of saidcrimp.

4. The method set forth in claim 1 in which said setting agent comprisesa heated fluid.

5. The method set forth in claim 1 in which said setting agent comprisessteam.

JULIUS H. PFAU.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 332,514 Hamilton Dec. 15, 1885 2,311,174 Hitt Feb. 16, 1943

